Perhaps, AP CM Chandrababu Naidu is going through one of the most toughest phase of his political career.
After winning the title of the ‘longest serving chief minister’ of AP by holding office for close to a decade in his first stint in office (1995-2004) and then moving ahead to become the ‘longest serving opposition leader’ in the state for yet another decade (2004-2014), Chandrababu Naidu has begun his second stint as chief minister. And no, it’s not a bed of roses for Naidu.
Not just his political opponents like YSRCP, even political allies like BJP, Janasena & old friend of TDP Loksatta JP too troubling Naidu in every possible way.
While YS Jagan has been creating fears among the farmers in capital region and provoking them to fight against the state government, and also trying to create disturbances every now and then and thus put state government in tight spot, Kapu crusader Mudragada Padmanabham is taking on cash-crunch government over including their community into BCs and declaring a war on government, good ally Jana Sena Pawan Kalyan criticizing government over Special Category Status and farmers issues, and of course BJP that’s part of TDP government in state and ally of NDA at Centre is troubling Naidu at his best by going back and forth on crucial deciscions and raising suspicions over special package, Chandrababu Naidu is a lone warrior ( a la Satakarni) who is ruling the state at his best with the available resources by making Amaravati as the capital.
While he tactfully solved a score of problems with his wit, vast experience and still so many are pending, he hasn’t tired yet and importantly, he didn’t given up. Also, none of his ministers could bail out Naidu from the situation and he’s all alone waging battle against all the odds that’re coming his way.
Ever since he became CM to the successor state of AP, problem after problem tested Naidu’s patience. The Gas pipeline blast in GAIL in June 2014 followed by Hudhud cyclone’s devastation in Oct 2014 that destructed Vizag and incurred crores of loss to government, T-TDP MLA Revanth Reddy allegedly caught bribing for votes in MLC election in Telangana in May 2015 and AP CM & TDP chief Chandrababu’s alleged involvement in it, and a major stampede in Godavari Pushkaram in Rajahmundry that killed nearly 30 in July 2015, Chandrababu has overcome several embarrassing and difficult instances. But all these have made Naidu stronger than before as he’s prepping upto make Amaravati, the capital of Sunrise Andhra Pradesh, a world-class capital.
His achievements include – the Land-pooling policy that won the trust of farmers who willingly gave over 35000 acres of land for the development of the capital region. Tying up with Singapore to build a world-class capital city – Amaravati – is another major achievement.
When cyclone Hudhud had hit Vizag, Naidu personally stayed and saw the relief measures personally and got the city back on its feet in record time. CBN turned Vizag into one of the cleanest cities in India in just a year. It was ranked fifth in the list of clean cities in India.
Except one unfortunate incident, the way Godavari Pushkaram was conducted was also one of the achievements of Naidu’s government.
The Pattiseema project that’s being delayed for decades is successfully initiated by Naidu. Involving the integration of Godavari and Krishna Rivers. It will provide irrigation to 7 lakh acres of farm-land in the state, greatly benefitting the drought prone Rayalaseema.
As Special Category Status to AP is now the hot issue that’s irking Naidu & his cabinet, Chandrababu Naidu has swiftly initiated steps at breakneck speed in getting Special Package from the Centre.
At 65, Chandrababu Naidu is solely working very hard for the new state and its future. Since the power-hungry Jagan can’t digest Naidu’s efforts, it’d be better if sensible person like Pawan Kalyan understands and stands by Chandrababu during these tough times. But as Pawan too is on the opposite side, it’s going to be more tougher for Naidu.
While the first century warrior emperor Satakarni made Amaravathi as his capital and fought against foreign invaders to unite all the Indian kingdoms, twenty-first century leader Chandrababu Naidu has made Amaravathi as capital again and is putting every effort to make the people of Andhra Pradesh proud and directing the state towards development. Hats off to Naidu’s spirit at this age. He’s the true Satakarni of this century, as he’s mustering all the courage and fighting for the cause – progress of AP- he strongly believed in.